Sign in or 
Location: Slow Feeders
Discussion: slow feeder works great!
Category:
Discussion Forum /
General Discussion
Share this
Sparrow01 |
slow feeder works great!
Apr 28 2010, 11:06 AM EDT
Okay, so my husband had some cargo nets (leftover from his work) they are bright orange and have holes about 1 1/2 - 2 " big. I folded them and sewed the sides (with baling twine) leaving a flap to go over the top after I put the hay in. It holds about 1 bale of hay. I used two t-posts that my husband drilled holes in the top of - so the D-rings (Carabiners) that came with the nets could be slipped through them. I have rubber toppers on the t-posts for safety. I hung the net across the two posts and filled it with hay. I thought for sure the horses would give it a try, get frustrated and walk quickly to the other three corners where the hay is simply out in huge tires and they can (and do) eat it up lickity slit. BUT NO! They LOVED this slow feeder. In fact, I am having trouble getting them to LEAVE it and go around the track for the easy hay! The three horses I have, 2 yr old gelding, 3 yr old mare and 25 yr old draft cross are in love. The draft got it right away (maybe he had used them before?), he was slow and patient, my mare was next, finally figuring out that slow worked better and she got more, and last but not least, the 2 yr old (after picking the ENTIRE BAG UP HAY AND ALL) a number of times, finally got it too. I love this. The hay has lased twice as long, no wasting or blowing away (like the rest of it is today b/c it is really windy here). I hope the cargo netting holds up, but it it doesn't - at least I know that it works. Goal: get one up in all four corners and add some smaller ones on the long sides of the track. We are going to build a roof over at least two of the feeding stations so the horses have some sheltered areas to eat in. If I could figure out how to get photos/videos on here, I would share this in pictures with you all. I will work on that.Happy in UPstate NY - where all my MUD IS FINALLY GONE!! Do you find this valuable? |
|
Sparrow01 |
1. RE: slow feeder works great!
Apr 28 2010, 6:10 PM EDT
I just read about what NOT TO DO and realized I have used the very thing warned against - those D-rings, or carabiners (sp). I will have to keep a close eye &/or figure out another way to keep it closed. SO far my guys haven't bothered with them, but ya never know.....
Do you find this valuable?
|
tangledmanes |
2. RE: slow feeder works great!
Apr 28 2010, 9:33 PM EDT
| Post edited: Apr 28 2010, 9:36 PM EDT
The mud is gone? Wow, that's my favorite time of year... oh, wait -- does that mean that it's now black fly season? lolGlad to hear they like the new slow feeder! You might be okay with the spring clips where they are (away from the hay), but to be safe, I would replace them with double-ended snaps. Use a replacement link to go through the holes in your posts, if the snap end is too thick to fit through. I tried to move the picture you attached but couldn't, so here's a link for easier viewing: http://attachments.wetpaintserv.us/0gwMWnVm8q9w0KVts4jGfQ%3D%3D80276 <oops, looks like it's not really a link at all -- so attachments apparently aren't actually *on* the site. I don't really understand the attachments...> Videos first have to be uploaded to a site like YouTube or MSN Video, then they can be inserted onto the wiki. Here's an explanation about adding photos: http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/page/How+to+Add+Photos Hope that helps -- looking forward to seeing more! JoAnn Do you find this valuable? |
|
Sparrow01 |
3. RE: slow feeder works great!
Jun 18 2010, 6:42 PM EDT
Okay - so after changing to all double-ended snaps, and making sure the t-post toppers were secure,and anything else I could think of - my mare somehow got herself tangled up between the net and the t-posts and was cut up on the inside of both her legs - from her feet to her inner thigh. The t-post in question was bent right over. All the stations (4 of them) were pulled and gone within the day. I NOW just put a bale into the netting (one fits perfect) - tie the end closed and put it out there. It is not attached to anything...and SO FAR no mishaps. It never ceases to amaze me how horses can get themselves into situations that you would think are all secure - only to find them in trouble somehow. Do you find this valuable? |
|
tangledmanes |
4. RE: slow feeder works great!
Jun 18 2010, 7:09 PM EDT
| Post edited: Jun 18 2010, 7:10 PM EDT
"It never ceases to amaze me how horses can get themselves into situations that you would think are all secure - only to find them in trouble somehow."That is so true! I hope she didn't get hurt too badly and heals up soon. I'm so glad that you did have toppers on the posts. :-) Thanks for the important safety update. I did figure out how to copy and re-load your photo attachment into the wiki photo section, and took the liberty of adding it to the "Avoid These Mistakes" page. http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/page/Avoid+These+Mistakes See if you agree with the description there -- it could prevent others from having the same problem. ~JoAnn~ Do you find this valuable? |
|
Sparrow01 |
5. RE: slow feeder works great!
Jun 18 2010, 9:49 PM EDT
HA! Thanks for adding my photo under that title! :O) I will check it out. Sparrow is fine now - but still some bare skin spots showing (and it happened a few weeks ago). I felt horrible, but hey - you gotta be willing to keep trying new stuff if you believe it will help your horses. I still think SFHN are the way to go, and for the time being just "out there on the ground" seems to be working.
Do you find this valuable?
|
|
Sparrow01 |
6. RE: slow feeder works great!
Jun 18 2010, 9:55 PM EDT
Just checked out the http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/page/Avoid+These+Mistakes I actually did have my hay nets free swinging on the bottom - I had thought of securing them there and thought better of it.. Figured if they were free swinging, the horse wouldn't get caught up in them. Since I never SAW Sparrow's "conversation" with the hay net /t-post set-up (only found the evidence of what happened after-the-fact), I don't know what she did to make it happen. But even with sturdy t-posts and free-swinging bottoms, double clips and daily checking - still had an injury as a result of my design. I saw the photo of the HUGE hay net (in Russia???) made with logs and was like WOW, but I can still see my girl being chased by a herd mate and ending up under it somehow. I like the ground best for now.
Do you find this valuable?
|
|
Sparrow01 |
7. RE: slow feeder works great!
Jun 18 2010, 10:03 PM EDT
PS The orange cargo nets (expensive suckers I guess, my husband got them free from work one day) have held up great! The holes are small (1 1/2 inch holes). I think they are for putting on top of a load (back of pick-up) to hold it down. They are tough as heck.
1
out of
1 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
|
tangledmanes |
8. RE: slow feeder works great!
Jun 19 2010, 1:17 PM EDT
"I actually did have my hay nets free swinging on the bottom - I had thought of securing them there and thought better of it.. Figured if they were free swinging, the horse wouldn't get caught up in them. ... I saw the photo of the HUGE hay net (in Russia???) made with logs and was like WOW, but I can still see my girl being chased by a herd mate and ending up under it somehow. I like the ground best for now. "I thought the bottom was probably free swinging on yours, but couldn't tell for sure from the picture; thought it would be worth mentioning there as something to avoid anyway. I'm very fond of feeding at ground level, too. Lorna in Canada also just puts her bale-size hay net down directly on the ground. (I usually like to have a barrier between the hay and the ground, but that's not always needed.) At first, she had her big hay nets on the ground tethered to a tree trunk or to the shed wall, but found that her horses didn't move them around so left off that extra step. Although she didn't have an issue with it, I could see potential problems with having a length of rope between the hay bag and an anchor point -- what would probably happen with my horses is that one of the ponies would be eating and Stella would come to chase them off it and the pony would get caught up in the rope and Stella would shove the net around a leg and someone would be trapped. Since we're discussing unlikely safety scenarios... ;-) The point is, I like your idea of using the bag by itself on the ground. :-) I just love Victoria's Russian hay feeder. Now that is the definition of STURDY, isn't it? http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/page/Victoria%27s+SMHN+in+Russia Did you see her article on slow feeders? http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/page/Slow+Feeder+article+in+Russian ~JoAnn~ Do you find this valuable? |
|
Sparrow01 |
9. RE: slow feeder works great!
Jun 19 2010, 6:45 PM EDT
I know just having them on the ground could lead to other issues, but I just don't know what else to do. I actually DID leave one t-post at the feeding stations and had the hay nets attached to it, and then thought that was dumb, they're already ON THE GROUND! Just where I thought they might fly away to I don't know. :O) I don't care for the ones where the horse has to eat sideways, like them to be eating as close to the ground as possible (even have their feed bowls bolted to the floor of the run-in in each corner), so don't care for the ones at shoulder height either. Who knows what fall and winter will bring. May have to change it all again somehow.Thanks fro all the feedback and replies - makes me feel good to know there are "others" out there trying to better by their horses! HA - try talking barefoot to long-time shoers - now THERE'S a conversation often wrapped in tension (unfortunately). I have a friend who is the director of a therapeutic riding program and she was telling me about her own horse who has navicular and how her farrier has kept him shod and his heels high for years to help him out. I almost jumped up from the table and screamed. Instead she agreed to look at some articles (scientific ones) that show how both of those is the WRONG thing to do for navicular (and many other) issues. There is actual science out there now, with tremendous machines that can measure and let us see clearly how things work - as in the horses foot mechanism. It's not just my feelings about things, it's REAL. Sorry, got off on my passion for healthy feet - which leads to health legs, shoulder, hips, backs, ...... check this web site article out - it's a great one. http://www.naturestrim.com/Problem%20hooves.htm Do you find this valuable? |
|
choochoowho |
10. RE: slow feeder works great!
Nov 27 2011, 6:29 PM EST
please please keep the hay nets high so the horses cant paw them i have seen so many injurys do to horses getting caught up in them and having there legs sliced open and even worse i have saved many horses from this practice by caring a sharp pocket knife on me always after one day of riding with friends many years ago we were crossing a very shallow stream when a horse fell and got his shoes caught on a tree trunk vine under the water after the struggled and he got tired he put his head in the water and could of drown if we hadnt held his head out of the water as it took a while to cut this very srong water vine it all ended well thank god but if a horse can get caught in it they will. i have never had or belived in locking up a horse in a stall you do need to make sure your property is safe in the long run it saves you money i have had 0 vet bills in 15 years knock on wood good luck to all nateral keeping horse lovers!!!!!!!!
Do you find this valuable?
|
